The best live-service games

There is always a debate raging about which is the best Final Fantasy game. Some love 7, others 6 or 10, and so on, but Final Fantasy 14 has become a top contender despite being an MMO. That wasn’t the case at launch, as most will remember, but thanks to a string of amazing expansions and updates it has risen to become many longtime fan’s absolute favorite. The story is just as strongly written as a single-player entry, but with hundreds of hours of content, dozens of massive areas to explore, and all the classes and jobs to play. You can even play the story as though it were a single-player game if you aren’t into MMOs, but those who are can also enjoy all the extra content like raids and events. While it does have a subscription tied to it, you can try it out with an extremely generous free trial that gives you almost all the content in the game.

When you think of a live-service game, you probably think of Fortnite. This biggest battle royale game in the world has evolved to be so much more and is more like a social space than just a singular game. The BR mode is still what most people come for, and each new chapter and season expands on the gameplay with changes to the map, new NPCs, quests, weapons, mechanics, and, of course, more skins. The friendly art style makes it appropriate for teens and adults, especially with all the crossover skins that have covered almost every notable IP at this point. But if you don’t enjoy that aspect, you can always play custom maps, build your own, or check out the musical events that are hosted within the game. As long as you can resist buying skins, it won’t cost you a thing, either. It’s easy to see how some people exclusively play Fortnite for years on end.

Besides Final Fantasy 14, not many live-service games are able to keep up a compelling plot. Genshin Impact never had an amazing story, but it at least has a cast of characters that fans have completely fallen in love with. Those new characters are what keep the hardcore coming back, but the game underneath is certainly worth highlighting. The world was big from the start but has only grown with new updates adding more diverse lands and new cultures of people to discover. The combat is somewhat simple on the surface, but harder challenges do require you to build dynamic teams and choose your equipment wisely to reap the best rewards. This game is slightly more aggressive in asking you to pay, but you could technically get everything you wanted for free if you were committed enough.

MOBAs are somewhat of a divisive genre; either you love them or you hate them. If you haven’t given one a try or are looking for a new one to stick with, League of Legends is the best on the market. It is free, of course, but already has a roster of well over 100 characters to test out and play against. That might sound a bit high if you wanted to understand everything, which is true, but the game is more about learning your character and your role on the team. Riot keeps this game in top shape with multiple patches and updates a month as well, so even the meta is constantly changing. Skins are where real money comes into play, so if you just enjoy the gameplay loop and have a team you enjoy running games with, you will never have to pay a cent. Just beware of the potential for toxicity if you are new and joining games solo.